Angry protesters attacked and occupied a mosque belonging to the minority Ahmadi sect in northeastern Pakistan on Saturday, a day after they torched a factory in response to rumors an Ahmadi employee had committed blasphemy.

The Interior Ministry said police and army had been deployed to the Jehlum district, 164 km (100 miles) north of the city of Lahore and that there were no casualties.

Ahmadis consider themselves Muslim but face fierce opposition from among Pakistan's Sunni Muslim majority. They are victims of violence and discrimination, and frequently face blasphemy charges, a crime punishable by death in Pakistan.

Punjab provincial police said the situation in Jehlum was under control, but police said it was still negotiating with local religious leaders and demonstrators to bring the standoff at the mosque to an end.